Chris DeLine

It wouldn’t be entirely absurd to expect a few unannounced guests to show up at First Avenue’s Benefit for Chad Weis, especially given the ridiculous list of talented musicians he’s worked with during his career. The current lineup of announced guests includes Mason Jennings, Cloud Cult, Trampled by Turtles, Haley Bonar, and the Pines, but the list of artists Weis has worked with as a producer, engineer, and manager reaches as far as Ben Kweller and as close to home as Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps. Weis underwent emergency surgery two months back, removing a rare fungal mass that had broken down both his nasal bones and those protecting his brain. As Weis’s health insurance is only covering a tenth of the bill, Mason Jennings has made the plea, “Let’s help get Chad back up and running! Please come join us for a wonderful night filled with music, love, and hope.” Even putting the necessity and humanity of the night’s focus aside, the lineup is brilliant enough to guarantee that no one in attendance will leave dissatisfied. 18+.

[This critics’ pick was originally published by City Pages.]